and the LIT program begins...

Week One went okay. There were only 15 kids (a full camp is 45-50, depending on the age group). and we had 8 staff members. needless to say, it was a little weird. most of the campers were pretty quiet and it was hard to get them loud and excited, especially at first. but then there were a few kids who wouldn't ever stop talking even while jon was teaching the Bible lesson. it was like they didn't get that it was teaching time and that they weren't just having a conversation where they could just talk and respond to everything that they heard. it was sort of frustrating, since these kids wouldn't stop. they weren't trying to be disruptive though, so you wouldn't discipline them, but you would have to tell them repeatedly to be quiet, and they just didn't get it.

anyways. today went fantastic. we have 50 campers this week and it's WAY better. they get loud and excited about the songs and games and stuff. and besides the usual few hyperactive campers, there aren't any really really crazy kids.

this was the first week that we had leaders-in-training and i think it's going to be really good. i must say that i really enjoy being the LIT director. i mean, it's so neat to be on the other side of it. do i feel qualified to lead these LITs? not always. but then i think of my experiences as a CIT and a counsellor at simonhouse and how i've taken everything i learned there and brought it to this camp. i guess you don't need to feel qualified for a job when God says to you that He wants you to do something and then plops the job in your lap - even if you're not sure at that point if you even want to do it.
i like to think about how i viewed the CIT director back then. so knowledgeable! so experienced! (and so much older!) and that's me now! i've become my old directors. this is a good thing. i am learning that i really need to communicate with my LITs (okay, i've only been with them for one day besides staff training). but i told them today that i really liked how they jumped in right away and i encouraged them to keep doing it. i'd like to see them become even more involved, but i need to remember that this is all very brand new to them. it will come with time.

as i write this, i am reminded of how julia was, back in the summer before grade 11. for the life of me, i tried so hard to hang out with the campers and other people, but when the crowds dispersed, it always ended up being me and my little clique - brianne and jerett - no matter what. we tried hard. we really did. but we had just bonded so well and we just ended up hanging out together always. so. i must keep this in mind when i'm dealing with my LITs. they're in high school. friends are the most important thing in the world. and no matter how hard they try they may just gravitate towards each other. no matter how great they are.
and i need to be gentle when i remind them to get back with the kids. hmmm. that's a really good reminder. thanks for that.